An ornamental staff in the shape of a shepherd‘s crook, conferred on bishops, miteredabbots, and certain other prelates. It usually consists of a metal tube, plated with silver and gold; sometimes of elaborately carved wood, or even of pure gold and silver.

The crook symbolizes that the bishop should act as a shepherd to those who may wander from his fold; the pointed lower end, that he should goad on the spiritually indifferent; and the tall shaft, that he should support the weak. The bishop always carries the crosier in the left hand with the crook turned outward towards the people, in accordance with the above symbolism; other prelates using the crosier hold it with the crook turned inwards. The popes have not used the crosier since before the 11th century; this is supposed by some to symbolize the giving of his staff by SaintPeter to one of his disciples to raise a dead person to life. lt indicates that the person was a bishop, abbot or abbess.